Civil War Comes to Life for DMS and DES Students

On January 16 of this year, students at DeWitt Middle and Elementary Schools started the year with a bang. They were given the opportunity to learn from Civil War reenactors about what life was like for soldiers in a winter encampment.

Chris McGee of Star City organized the event for the district, recruiting help from both near and far, including several of his students from Star City Christian Academy. He did an outstanding job connecting with students and answering their questions. Dyan Bohnert traveled from Dumas to teach students about medical practices of the time, including brushing teeth with charcoal from the previous night’s campfires.

Steve Frizzell and Brian Abney, also of Star City, provided one of the day’s highlights when they fired a 3-inch Ordnance Rifle (cannon), shaking windows throughout the town. Larry Rainey of Greenbrier traveled a long distance to give students a glimpse of what a Union soldier looked like. He may have even deserved a bravery award, as he was the only “Yankee” in camp.

Local residents Bradley and Josh Haynes also played an important role. Not only did they help set up the event, but they were outfitted as Confederate soldiers and even took part in a small charge on the cannon emplacement—an effort that, unfortunately, ended their brief careers in the Confederate ranks.

Students were able to get an up-close look at period weapons, tools, tents, and clothing, as well as experience a firsthand campfire on what proved to be a very cold day. Strong winds and low temperatures only added to the realism, emphasizing the hardships soldiers endured.

Events like this help students learn in ways that textbooks and classrooms alone cannot, and the DeWitt School District is proud to provide such meaningful experiences for its students.